Is World Central Kitchen in Turkey? Providing Relief After the Devastating Earthquakes

On February 6, 2023, a catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life. As the death toll climbed to over 41,000 people, with many more injured or displaced from their homes, humanitarian organizations from around the world mobilized to provide emergency relief to the affected regions. One of the most prominent groups to take action was World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit focused on providing food aid in the wake of natural disasters and humanitarian crises. So is World Central Kitchen in Turkey right now, serving hot meals to earthquake victims? Let’s take a closer look at WCK’s disaster response efforts on the ground.

For those unfamiliar World Central Kitchen is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2010 by celebrity chef José Andrés. After witnessing the struggling disaster relief efforts in Haiti following the devastating 2010 earthquake Andrés established WCK with the mission of using the power of food to heal communities and strengthen resilience during times of crisis.

Over the past decade, WCK has provided millions of fresh, nutritious meals for survivors and relief workers in response to all kinds of disasters – from hurricanes in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas to wildfires in California to the COVID-19 pandemic across America. No matter the crisis, WCK’s team of chefs, food trucks, and volunteers can mobilize quickly to get food and water to those who need it most.

WCK Mobilizes for the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Response

In the aftermath of the catastrophic February 2023 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, WCK once again took swift action to provide food aid. On February 7, just one day after the initial quake, chef José Andrés and a team from WCK arrived in Turkey to begin relief efforts.

After initially setting up headquarters in Adana, one of the hardest hit cities, WCK eventually moved its main operations center to Gaziantep, about 140 miles east. This strategic location allowed WCK to better reach many earthquake-ravaged communities across southeastern Turkey.

In partnership with local restaurants and catering companies, WCK established a high-volume kitchen in Gaziantep. This main kitchen had the capacity to produce over 100,000 fresh, hot meals per day, including stews, rice dishes, soups, sandwiches, and more The meals were then transported via truck and distributed for free to displaced residents camping outside in freezing winter temperatures

Ramping Up to Meet Enormous Needs

In the first three weeks after the earthquakes, WCK served over 3.3 million nourishing meals to survivors in Turkey alone. But the organization knew the road to recovery would be long, with immense and ongoing needs.

WCK set the goal of eventually being able to produce 250,000 meals per day across three high-capacity kitchens in southeastern Turkey. To achieve this, they brought in additional chefs, more food trucks, and new equipment like industrial-sized ovens. WCK also expanded its food distribution network by partnering with local community organizations.

By early March, WCK had increased its daily meal production in Turkey to over 150,000. The organization was serving hot, culturally appropriate meals like mercimek soup, bulgur pilaf, chicken kebabs, and lahmacun flatbread. This food was being transported and distributed across 11 provinces through a coordinated relief effort.

Delivering More Than Just Food

While the nutritious meals have obviously been crucial, WCK staff say their work is about more than just filling bellies. The act of sharing a comforting plate of hot food with earthquake victims also provides some essential human connection during extremely traumatic times.

WCK’s food trucks frequently stay on-site for a while after meal distribution so survivors have the chance to talk with WCK chefs and volunteers. Besides preparing and serving fresh food, the WCK team makes an effort to listen to people’s stories and connect with them on a personal level. For those who just lived through a devastating tragedy, this compassion can be incredibly meaningful.

Looking Ahead to Long-Term Recovery

As southeastern Turkey embarks on the long road to rebuilding and recovery, WCK has committed to supporting these earthquake-affected communities for the long haul. While the immediate disaster response is critical, WCK also wants to contribute to long-term food security and economic recovery.

Some of WCK’s ongoing relief plans include:

• Establishing mobile kitchens and food trucks to serve warm meals in remote areas
• Distributing essential non-perishable food items and clean water
• Partnering with local bakeries and farms to revive food production
• Working with schools to ensure students have healthy school meals
• Creating culinary job training programs for residents

WCK will continue adapting its efforts to address the evolving needs on the ground. With the Turkish government estimating over 1 million people now need emergency shelter, the crisis is far from over. But WCK reaffirms its commitment to keep chefs cooking and food trucks rolling for as long as it takes to help these devastated communities recover.

So in answer to the original question – yes, World Central Kitchen is very active on the ground in Turkey right now. WCK is playing a leading role in the humanitarian response, providing millions of hot, nourishing meals to earthquake survivors. This vital food aid is not only saving lives in the immediate aftermath, but also laying the foundations for long-term rebuilding. With its proven disaster relief model, WCK is uniquely equipped to support Turkey until the people regain their strength.